System for the handling and transportation of parts, finished articles, or packaged goods



March 29, 1960 a. D. STOUGH 2,930,331

I SYSTEM FOR THE HANDLING AND TRANSPORTATION 0F mars, FINISHED ARTICLES, on PACKAGED GOODS Filed July 1, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

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March 29, 1960 s. D. STOUGH 2,930,331

SYSTEM FOR THE HANDLING AND TRANSPORTATION OF PARTS, rmsuso mrxcuas. 0R PACKAGED Goons Filed July 1, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

GERALD D. STOUGH BY wazzw/Az/wnmd ATTORN EYS United States Pa fl D i SYSTEM FOR THE HANDLING AND TRANSPOR- TATION F PARTS, FINISHED ARTICLES, OR PACKAGED GOODS 6 Claims. (Cl. 105-369) This invention relates generally to means: for storing and anchoring articles of merchandise within storage chambers of either transport vehicles or stationary depots,

and refers more particularly to means by which portable merchandise carrying racks or holders may be detachably anchored within such storage chambers.

One of the essential objects of the invention is to provide a portable rack that may be loaded with merchandise at the factory where such merchandise is manufactured and that may thereafter be transferred intact to and anchored within the storage chamber of the transport vehicle or depot.

Another object is to provide a portable rack of the type mentioned that can be readily carried when loaded with merchandise into and properly positioned within the storage chamber of a transport vehicle or depot by means of a lift truck, and that can be automatically anchored within the storage chamber while being moved vertically therein toward the floor thereof by the lift truck.

Another object is to provide a portable rack and anchorage means therefor that will enable substantially all available space within the storage chamber of the vehicle or depot to be utiilzed without waste for storage of the merchandise carrying racks.

Another object is to provide a portable rack and anchorage means therefor that are so constructed that the static load of the racks and merchandise thereon may be carried entirely by the fioor of the storage chamber independently of the upright walls thereof and independently of the rack anchorage means on said upright walls.

Another object is to provide anchorage means respectively on the upright walls of the storage chamber and on the racks that not only are interengageable during vertical movement of the racks toward the floor of the storage chamber, but also are operable when interengaged as aforesaid to hold the racks against displacement horizontally relative to said upright walls.

Another object is to provide the racks with anchorage means that include torsion members capable of absorbing the shock load when the racks tend to move horizontally in a direction lengthwise of the transport vehicle when the latter is stopped suddenly while in motion.

Another object is to provide a portable rack capable of being stacked one on top of the other so that the upper space within the storage chamber maybe occupied,

and so that the gravitation load of the upper racks of the stack will be carried downward through the lower racks to the floor of the storage chamber.

Another object is to provide a portable rack and anchorage means therefor capable of preventing a rack Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of the portable racks or holders embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a storage chamber of a transport vehicle and showing on the spaced upright walls of said chamber anchorage members for portable racks;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view through the storage chamber of the transport vehicle and showing the anchorage members atone end of stacked racks in engagement with the anchorage members upon the adjacent upright Wall of said storage chamber;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of a plurality of racks or holders arranged in a vertical stack;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 1. 7

Referring now to the drawings, A is a transport vehicle storage chamber having a load-sustaining floor 10 and spaced upright side walls 11 extending upwardly from and rigid with said floor, and B is a portable rectangular rack or holder having a length substantially equal to the distance between the side walls 11 of the storage chamber and comprising a horizontally extending rectangular frame B -having upright corner posts 12 and substantially horizontal side and end bars 13 and 14 respectively extending between and rigidly connected to said posts intermediate their upper and lower ends. Such posts 12 and bars 13 and 14 may be any suitable construction and may be formed of any suitable material. Thus the bars 13 and 14 may initially be varied in construction or configuration according to the nature of the merchandise to be carried thereby. The posts 12 constitute load-sustaining elements and are adapted to be supported upon the floor 10 of the storage chamber to transmit thereto the weight of the rack and merchandise carried thereby.

Preferably the upper ends of the posts 12 are provided with upwardly projecting pilot portions 15 for engagement with the recesses 16 in the lower ends of posts of a superimposed rack, whereby the racks may be arranged in stacked relation within either the storage chamber of a transport vehicle or the storage chamber of a stationary depot. Thus all available space within storage chambers of the type mentioned may be utilized for the reception 7 lugs 22 fixed to and projecting horizontally from trans-.

versely extending substantially horizontal bars 23 at opposite ends of the racks. Preferably these bars 23 bridge the outer sides of and are pivotally connected to laterally spaced levers or arms 24 which in turn respectively are rigidly connected to the outer free end portions of laterally spaced torsion rods or tubes 25 extending lengthwise of.

and fixed intermediate their ends to the side rails 13 of the racks. V

The rails 20 and 21 may be formed of any suitable material such as sheet metal and may be rigidly secured by any suitable means to-the upright walls ll. Preferably the lowermost rails 20 have upright or vertically extending portions 26 spaced from the upright'walls 11, laterally extending portions 27 at the upper edges of the upright portions 26, and attaching flanges 28 and 29 respectively at the outer edges of the lateral portions 27 and at the lower edges of the upright portions 26 and rigidly secured to the upright walls 11 and floor 10 of the trans port vehicle. The upper rails 21 have upright or vertically extending portions 30 spaced from the upright walls 11,

Patented Mar. 29,1960

laterally extending portions 31 and 32 respectively at the upper and lower edges of said upright portions 30 and attaching flanges 33 and 34 respectively at the outer edges of said lateral portions 31 and 32 and rigidly secured to the upright walls 11.

The lateral portions 27 and 31 respectively of the rails 20 and 21 are provided with longitudinally spaced vertically open substantially rectangular apertures 35, while the upright portions 26 and 30 respectively of the rails 20 and 21 are provided with longitudinally spaced vertically extending elongated slots or apertures 36 of uniform width that open upwardly into the apertures 35 substantially midway the ends thereof.

The spacing of the apertures 35 in the lateral portions 27 and 31 and the spacing of theelongated slots 36 in the upright portions 26 and 30 of the rails correspond to the spacing of the T-shaped lugs 22 at opposite ends of the racks or holders B. Moreover, the rails 20 and 21 and the apertures and slots in said rails are so constructed and arranged that the apertures and slots mentioned may be engaged automatically by the lugs 22 at opposite ends of the racks when the latter are lowered vertically by. a lift truck (not shown) to permit the load of the racks B to be carried entirely by the floor of the vehicle independently of the upright Walls 11 and rails and 21.

The lugs 22 at opposite ends of the racks have lateral attaching flanges 40 rigidly secured to the horizontal bars 23 at opposite ends of the racks, and have horizontally extending stem portions 41 of substantially uniform or equal width provided at their outer ends with head portions 42 extending laterally from and disposed at substantially right angles to the stem portions 41.

The pivotal connections between the bars 23 and the levers 24 comprise horizontal pins or bolts 50 disposed substantially in horizontal alignment with the lugs 22. The levers 24 normally extend vertically and are connected adjacent opposite ends thereof to the pivot pins 50 and to the torsion rods or tubes 25. Preferably the levers 24 are Welded to the torsion rods or tubes and the latter are disposed upon the inner sides of and are substantially parallel to the side rails 13 ofthe racks. The free end portions of the torsion rods or tubes 25 extend freely through and outwardly beyond openings or bearings 51 in the cross rails 14 of the racks and are anchored intermediate their ends by pins 52 within brackets 53 fixed to the side rails 13 of the racks. Thus when the lugs 22 are interengaged with the rails 20 and/ or 21 on the upright side walls 11 of the storage chamber A of the transonrt vehicle (t e torsion rods or tubes 25 will absorb the shock load and will resist any swinging movement of the normally vertical levers 24 in the event the racks B should shift horizontally in a direction lengthwise of the transport vehicle when the latter is stopped suddenly while in motion.

In use, a rack B may be initially carried by a suitable lift truck (not shown) to an elevated position extending transversely of the storage chamber A of the vehicle so that the lugs 22 at opposite ends of the rack will be above and in vertical alignment with the apertures in the rails 20. Then the rack B is lowered vertically by the lift truck so that the heads 42 of the lugs 22 will move downwardly through the apertures 35 in the lateral portions 27 of the rails 20. Further vertical downward movement of the rack by the lift truck will cause the heads 42 of the lugs 22 to pass downwardly behind the upright portions 26 of the rails 20 and will cause the stems 41 to move downwardly in the elongated slots '36. When the stems 41 of the lugs 22 are received in the slots 36 the posts 12 of the rack B will rest upon and be supported by the floor 10 of the storage chamber A of the vehicle. In this position, the opposite ends of the rack B are bridged by the horizontally extending rails 20, and the lugs 22 on oppo site ends of the rack are detachably interlocked with the post 12 of the upper racks will rest upon and be supported by the posts 12 of the lower racks. Thus the load of any single rack or the load of the stacked racks is carried by the floor 10 of the vehicle independently of the side walls 11 and rails 20 and 21.

When the transport vehicle in which the racks are anchored is stopped suddenly while in motion in either a forward or a rearward direction, there is a tendency of the racks to shift or move lengthwise of the vehicle. When this occurs, the torsion rods or tubes 25 will effectively absorb the shock load by opposing any swinging movement of the levers 24 caused by any longitudinal movement of the bars 23 horizontally in a direction lengthwise of the transport vehicle.

The head portions 42 of the lugs 22, in cooperation with the upright portions 26 and 30 respectively of the rails 20 and 21 will effectively restrain the racks from any displacement transversely of the vehicle. Thus in each instance the stresses occasioned by any longitudinal or transverse movement of the racks B will be transmitted to the rails 20 and 21 and through them to the side walls 11 of the vehicle, but the static load of the racks will always be transmitted by the posts 12 of the racks to the floor 10 of the vehicle independently of said side walls 11 and rails 20 and 21.

The racks B may be anchored as described within a storage chamber of either a transport vehicle or a stationary depot. In either case the merchandise carried by the racks need not be removed therefrom from the time such merchandise is initially loaded onto the racks at the factory where such merchandise is manufactured. By use of a lift truck, the racks B individually or in a stack may be moved into and positioned within the storage chamber of either a transport vehicle or depot to be engageable automatically as described with the apertures and slots in the rails. In a similar manner such racks B may be removed from the storage chamber of the trans port vehicle or depot. Thus, after the original loading on the racks at the factory, the merchandise may remain intact on the racks until they reach their final destination. Accordingly, a great saving in labor, time and cost may be obtained. Moreover, the construction of the anchoring means is such that the racks will be effectively held while in transit. In this connection the transport vehicle may be either a cargo truck, trailer, boxcar, boat or airplane.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. The combination with a transport vehicle having a storage chamber elongated longitudinally in the direction of travel and provided with a load-sustaining floor and provided above said floor with spaced upright side walls, and rigid anchorage means on said upright side walls, of a portable merchandise carrying rack within said storage chamber and having at opposite ends thereof load-sustaining means supported upon said floor, and shock resistant coupling means connected between said rack and the anchorage means on one of said upright side walls for yieldably restraining said rack against horizontal shifting movement in a direction lengthwise of said storage chamber, said coupling'means including an elongated shock absorbing torsion member having a free end and extending longitudinally of and rigidly connected to said rack at a point remote from said free end, a rigid arm rigidly connected at one end thereof to and projecting vertically from said torsion member at said free end thereof, a rigid anchorage member connected to said rigid arm at the other end thereof and detachably interlocked with the rigid anchorage means on one of said upright side walls, and guide means on said rack intermediate said rigid arm and the rigid connection aforesaid between said rack and said torsion member and supporting an intermediate portion of said torsion member for rotation.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 in which said anchorage member comprises a lug connected to said arm .to develop torsional forces in said torsion member as a result of relative movement between said lug and rack in a direction longitudinally of said chamber, said lug and anchorage means aforesaid on one of said upright side walls having engaged surfaces effective to prevent horizontal movement of said lugs longitudinally of said chamber.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1 which comprises pivot means interconnecting said rigid arm to said rigid anchorage member.

4. The combination with a transportvehicle having a storage chamber elongated longitudinally in the direction of travel and provided with a load-sustaining floor and provided above said'floor with spaced upright side walls, and rigid anchorage means on said upright side walls, of a portable merchandise carrying rack within said storage chamber and having at opposite ends thereof load-sustaining means supported upon said floor, and shock resistant coupling means connected between said rack and anchorage means for yieldably restraining said rack against horizontal shifting movement in a direction lengthwise of said storage chamber, said coupling means including an elongated shock absorbing torsion member having free ends and extending the full length of and rigidly connected to said rack at a point intermediate said free ends, rigid arms respectively rigidly connected at one end thereof to and projecting vertically from said torsion member at the free ends thereof, rigid anchorage members respectively connected to said rigid arms at the other ends thereof and detachably interlocked with the rigid anchorage means on said upright side walls, and guide means on said rack intermediate said rigid arms and the rigid connection aforesaid between said torsion member and said rack and supporting intermediate portions of said torsion member for rotation.

5. The combination with a transport vehicle having a storage chamber elongated longitudinally in the direction of travel and provided with a load-sustaining floor and provided above said floor with spaced upright side walls, and rigid anchorage means on said upright side walls, of a portable merchandise carrying rack within said storage chamber and having at opposite ends thereof load-sustaining means supported upon said floor, and shock resistant coupling means connected between said rack and anchorage means for yieldably restraining said rack against horizontal shifting movement'in a direction lengthwise of said storage chamber, said coupling means comprising a pair of elongated torsion bars at opposite sides of said rack and extending from end to end thereof, a rigid bar at each end of said rack having lugs thereon detachably interlocked with said rigid anchorage means,

said torsion bars having at their ends'generally vertically extending rigid arms, pivot connections between said rigid arms and said rigid bars, means fixedly securing inter mediate portions respectively of said torsion bars to said rack, and guide means carried by said rack and rotatably receiving the portions of said torsion bars adjacent to but spaced inwardly from said rigid arms.

6. The combination with a transport vehicle having a storage chamber elongated longitudinally in the direction of travel and provided with a load-sustaining floor and provided above said floor with spaced upright side walls, and rigidanchorage means on said upright side walls, of a portable merchandise carrying rack within said storage chamber and having at opposite ends thereof loadsustaining means supported upon said floor, and shock resistant coupling means connected between said rack and the anchorage means on one of said upright side walls for yieldably restraining said rack against horizontal bars for rotation, generally vertically extending rigid arms rigidly connected at one end thereof to said torsion bars at the free ends thereof, and pivot means connecting the other ends of said rigid arms to said movable bars.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,808,788 Stoflgh Oct. 8, 1957 

